The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-10
THE NEW JocAsrA.
The Story OF Marriage Between
Mother and Son.

Motner ana Son.
From the New York Truth
A modern domestic tragedy, quite as'
sensational and awful as the one which
served as the basis for certain Greek
play, is coming to light and il will. IL I'D
said, be one OF the greatest shocks which
New York society has had in years This
remarkable bomb exploded in handsomel
Fifth avenue mansion not 600 miles from
st. Patrick's cathedral, and one OF the
favorite 'meets" OF fashionable folk.
Aboubsix years ago this house was pur-
chased by a young man of thirty, whose
voluptuously beautiful wife seemed at least
five years younger than her husband. Her,
beauty was well matched by her wit and
brilliancy and he seemed in every way
worthy OF being matrimonial partner to
such woman. No sooner were they in
New York than society accepted them
with open arms and sunny smiles. They
were petted, Toasted and admired every
where; and though many envied them,
every one flattercd them. They were rs
rich as they were attractive, and they
pretty nearly balanced the elaborate feasts
and receptions they gave by their equally
prodigal and unstinted charities.
As husband and wife they were model
pair. They were always together, and
never, even in the presence of guests,
could endure being out of each others
sight These two were made for each
other, and for once, love got It's rights"
was the almost universal comment. Many
jokes, IN fact, were gotten off about their
being such ardent and devoted lovers;
and this they always took with blushing
and smiling good humor, without trying
10 make their affections less noticeable.
And now, recently, all their sunshiny
happiness, and all their ardent love, is
ended by an awful discovery which they
have mvde For all the fact that they
werc duly married by noted New York
clergyman, and for all their having lived
together for the pat six years in the be-
lief thai they were husband and wife, il
now is proven 10 them @beyond any ques-
lion Of doubt that there il between them
the still older relation OF mother and son.
No sooner was this horrible fact found out
thsn he He'd the country, and she closed
mp and left the house so full of haunting
memories
The history Of the case il like this
Thirty years ago the son OF wealthy
southern planter met and fell in love with
beautiful New Hampshire girl OF fifteen.
Young as she was, she was a fully devcl.
oped woman, and her fiery and impctuous
southern lover made n profound impress
sion on her. Her parents distrusted the
young man, and 80 he and his sweetheart
ran away and were married. They came
10 New York, where, after three months,
he got tired Of her and went west, aban-
uoning her 10 whatever tate might como.
lie had an uncle in Niginin whose heir
he was TO have been, and since her still
ncckcd parents refused 10 take her back
into their home again, she appealed 10 this
uncle of her husbands for assistance. Tho
aforesaid uncle came Ia New York, saw
how things were, and stayed with his new
niece until her son WAS born. At this time
she WIS delrious, and on her recovery,
being told that her babe was born dead,
she. OF course, believed il.
The husbands uncle took the child
south with him, and brought Il up and
educated it, telling everybody that Il was
his own son. The deserted wife and.
mother was provided Tor by him until,
winning ihc heart II generous old lndyl
whose companion she became. she was
soon aitcrward, on the death Of her bone
iactrcss, made cole hrir,Ss 10 the lattcr'sl
enormous properly. And here, too, was
an extraordinary element leading 90 the
strtngr confession; on receiving this prop
crty the hoircss was required Ia take the
J donors name.
She kept her youth and beauty to de-,
gree which was remarkable, aud nj the age
OF thirty-nne she scarcely seemed twenty.
IL was then That she iuct her son, without,
OF coursc, having the slightest suspicion
that her blood courscd in his veins. They
no sooner met than they were madly in